Cleaning tool



Jan. 11, 1966 w. E. ROSENGARTEN, JR., ETAL 3,228,145

CLEANING TOOL Original Filed May 7, 1962 wzkrzt/m if.

United States Patent M 3,228,146 CLEANING TOQL Walter E. Rosengarten,J12, 2895 Gradyville Road, Broorm all, Pa.; Archibald T. Flower, 2637Church Road, Glenside, Pa.; and David L. Buchanan, 6333 Valley GreenRoad, Flourtown, Pa.

Originm application May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 192,817, new Patent No.3,178,793, dated Apr. 20, 1965. Divided and this application May 20,1964, Ser. No. 368,804

4 Claims. (Cl. 518) The present invention is a division of our copendingapplication, Serial No. 192,817, filed May 7, 1962, for Process andApparatus for Sealing Mains, now Patent No. 3,178,793, dated April 20,1965.

The present invention relates to devices for cleaning pipes and mains,particularly where limited access is provided, as through a smallexcavation.

A purpose of the invention is to provide means for cleaning a pipe andparticularly a pipe joint which is inaccessible, and is located in arelatively small or narrow excavation.

A further purpose is to provide means for cleaning a pipe joint prior toattaching a mold for sealing the joint.

A further purpose is to permit cleaning of a .pipe joint by a person ata point remote from the main in which the joint is contained.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawings, we have chosen to illustrate one embodiment only of thecleaning device, choosing a form shown from the standpoints ofconvenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and cleardemonstration of the principles involved.

FIGURE 1 is an axial elevation of the cleaning device of the inventionabout to be inserted on a main which is shown in section.

FIGURE 2 is a section taken from the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view taken from the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial sectional elevation of the frame andnozzle of the cleaning device of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is an axial elevation of the cleaning device of the inventionapplied to the top side of a main.

FIGURE 6 is an axial elevation of the cleaning device of the inventionshowing the nozzle at the underside of a main.

FIGURE 7 is a section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal elevation showing the cleaningdevice of the invention being applied to a joint.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to thedrawings:

In the distribution of gas for domestic, commercial and industrial use,a network of mains is employed to carry the gas from central points topoints of usage. These mains in many instances have bell and spigotjoints which are typically packed by jute and then leaded or cemented atthe outside. \Vhen these joints were originally installed, many of themains would distribute carbureted water gas or coke oven gas or othermanufactured gas which contained a substantial amount of moisture, tarsand oils. These liquids had, over a period of time, saturated thepacking materials to provide relatively leakfree joints.

In recent years, there has been a shift over to natural gas which is ofa comparatively dry nature. Shrinkage of packing has occurred causingleakage.

We have proposed to close such leaks by making rela- 3,228,l45 PatentedJan. 11, 196$ tively narrow excavations, applying a mold around the belland spigot joint, and sealing the joint by molding a sealing compound.

In order to obtain good adherence, it is important to clean the metal ofthe pipe adjacent to the joint. The present invention relates tomechanism permitting cleaning of a pipe for any purpose for which thisis required, and particularly cleaning .a main which is inaccessible tothe workmen.

In accordance with the invention, the cleaning is accomplished bysand-blasting, grit-blasting, wheat-blasting, or refractory-blasting.

A preferred blasting mechanism is shown in the drawings.

A handle 20 is pivotally connected at 21 to frame 22, having arcuateelements or jaws 23 and 24 suitably pivoted at 25. A connecter element26 supports elements 23 and 24 to pivot 25 and also supports pivot 27 towhich handle 20 is attached at 21. Handle 20 has a suitable U-shapedbend 28 at the end adjacent frame 22. Rollers 30 are pivotally mountedon arcuate elements 23 and 24 which engage circumferentially on the pipe116. As best seen in FIGURE 7, there are two rollers 30 on the outer endof element 23 and one roller near the pivot and one roller on the outerend of element 24, the rollers being disposed at approximately 120intervals around the circumference. A nut and bolt 31 retains helicalcompression spring 32 which biases the segments 23 and 24 together asbest seen in FIGURE 4.

A nozzle 33 having orifice opening 34 is held to arcuate element 24 byextension 35 and retainer 36. Retainer 36 is held against extension 35by nuts and bolts 37 which are spring loaded by helical compressionsprings 38 to secure the nozzle 33 by engaging surface 40 of the nozzle.A shoulder 41 and nut 42 threaded on nozzle 33 prevent longitudinalmovement of the nozzle with respect to the .arcuate element 24. Thespring loaded yieldable retainer 36 allows the nozzle 33 to be rotatedselectively.

A hose 43 is connected to the nozzle at 44 whereby sand or otherabrasive can be brought to the nozzle and into contact with the pipe,the hose being connected at the outer end to any suitable air compressorand abrasive pickup mechanism as well known.

In operation, a hole is dug from the street or pavement surface to thelevel of the main. This hole can be suitably of a cross-section of 4" x18" at the surface and is then extended to any necessary dimensionsurrounding the pipe to introduce the cleaning mechanism. After the holeis dug and cleaned of loose earth, the cleaning device 29 is loweredinto the hole with the arcuate portions or jaws 23 and 24 disposed oneither side of the top portion of the pipe 1165, as shown in FIGURE 1.These arcuate sections 23 and 24 are normally biased toward a closed orradially inward position by helical spring 32 acting against nut andbolt 31. The arcu'ate sections 23 and 24 are extended by forcing therollers 311 against the pipe section in a downward direction so that thesections expand and then contract and snap in place about the pipe asshown in FIGURE 8.

The operator uses the handle 20 to maneuver the sections 23 and 24-carrying nozzle 33 with its opening 34. The arcuate sections 23 and 24are rotated around the pipe into positions shown in FIGURE 5 and FIGURE6 as the blast is applied to the face of the bell as shown in FIGURE 2,or to to the spigot as shown in FIG- URE 5. The shoulder 41 is providedwith radial studs 49 so that the nozzle may be rotated with a suitableforked rod applied from above ground for adjustment of the direction ofthe blast. It is also relatively easy to remove the cleaning device fromthe hole to rotate the nozzle 33 to get a selected direction for theblast. The cleaning device is rotated through the entire 360circumference of the pipe by alternatively flopping the handle so thatthe U bend 28 is on the one side of the pipe during the 180 rotation asshown in FIGURE 5, and then on the other side of the pipe through thereremaining 180 of rotation as shown in FIGURE 6. The handlerotates'about the pivot 27 during this flopping from one side to theother.

After the bell 57 and spigot 53 have been sand-blasted, the cleaningmechanism is removed by pulling upwardly on the handle.

In view of our invention and disclosure, variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of ourinvention without copying the device shown, and we, therefore, claim allsuch insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of ourclaims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for cleaning mains, a frame comprising a plurality ofradially-inwardly-biased pivotally-attached elements formingsnap-engagement jaws [for detachably embracing a main and having rollermeans for providing circumferential rolling contact therewith, saidframe having capacity for engagement with said main by movement radiallytheretoward, said jaws in disengaged position being open to a spacingsomewhat less than the outside diameter of said main for facilitatingsuch engagement, a nozzle rotatably carried by said frame for rotationon a generally tangential axis, and handle means attached to said framefor selectively positioning said nozzle around said main.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein said handle means comprises ahandle connected to said frame adapted for rotation on an axis parallelto a longitudinal axis of said frame and on an axis generally radial tosaid frame.

3. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein adjacent to its connection tosaid frame said handle has a U-bend adapted to fit around the main suchthat said connection is capable of being maneuvered to the diametricallyopposite side of the main.

4. The cleaning device of claim 1, adapted for use in cleaning anunderground main having a portion exposed in a narrow excavation,wherein said handle means for positioning said frame comprises a handleextending above the excavation for manual operation thereabove, saidhandle being pivotally connected tosaid frame for rotation on an axisparallel to a longitudinal axis of said frame and on an axis generallyradial to said frame, and said handle being provided with a U-bendadjacent to its connection with said frame and also adapted to forcesaid frame into embracing engagement with said main.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,829,831 11/1931Hiskey 118-307 2,516,222 7/ 1950 Lindmark 51320 2,603,920 7/1952Wagstoflf.

2,914,891 12/1959 Nix 51-241 2,951,319 9/1960 Kornhaus 51-8 LESTER M.SWINGLE, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A DEVICE FOR CLEANING MAINS, A FRAME COMPRISING A PLURALITY OFRADIALLY-INWARDLY-BIASED PIVOTALLY-ATTACHED ELEMENTS FORMINGSNAP-ENGAGEMENT FJAWS FOR DETACHABLY EMBRACING A MAIN AND HAVING ROLLERMEANS FOR DETACHABLY CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROLLING CONTACT THEREWITH, SAIDFRAME HAVING CAPACITY FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID MAIN BY MOVEMENT RADIALLYTHERETOWARD, SAID JAWS IN DISENGAGED POSITION BEING OPEN TO A SPACINGSOMEWHAT LESS THAN THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID MAIN FOR FACILITATINGSUCH ENGAGEMENT, A NOZZLE ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID FRAME FOR ROTATIONON A GENERALLY TANGENTIAL AXIS, AND HANDLE MEANS ATTACHED TO